Fountain pen



A. H. sTENERsEN 2,142,532

FOUNTAJIN PEN Filed June 28, 1937'I Patented Jan. 3, 1939 PATENT OFFICE FOUNTAIN PEN AlbertH. Stenersen, Chicago, Ill., assignor-.to The Wahl'Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application June28; 1937',l Serial No. 150,671V

4 Claims.

This` invention relatesi to fountain pens, and is concerned primarily with improvements wherebycertainadvantages in construction and opL eration are obtained;

One of lthe objects is toprovide an improved constructionsfor closing off or sealing the ink reservoir from the pensection when the pen point capv is applied to the pen.

Another object is the provision of an improved construction whereby exhaustionoi-ink.` from a pen of the collapsible-sac'reservoir type maybe visually ascertained-before theA pen runs completely dry.

Another-object -is the provision of anzimproved constructionwherebyuthe assembly of a' collapsible-sact reservoir in conjunction :with a cut-off valve device is` simplified' and' facilitated and whereby disassembly for" inspection, cleaning, or replacement of parts is-likewise simplied.

Still anotherobjectis vthe provisionof Yan improved construction forlobtainingstrength and preventing inkleakage in'a pen'having ink visibility and feedcuteoff features.

Other and furtherobjects and Aadvantages will be pointed'out or indicated hereinafter or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon anunderstanding of the invention.

For the purpose of aiding in an explanation of the invention, I show inthe accompanying draw-e ing forming a part of this specication, and hereinafter described, one form of construction in which it may be embodied. It is to be understood,V however',v that this is-presented merely by way ofillustration'or examplek and isnot to be construed for the purpose'oflimiting the appended claims short ofthe true and most com'- prehensivefscope of the invention in the art.

In the drawing,

Fig. l isa part longitudinal sectional viewof a fountain pen embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on approximately line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a part longitudinal sectional View of a pen point cap or cover for parts illustrated in Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a detail showing, on. a somewhat .larger 50 scalethan Fig. 1,. a bottom-view of the. feed bar with the cut-off valveassembled therewith; and

Fig. 6 is a compositelongitudinalsectional View of some oithepartsy shown in Fig. imposition for assembly.4

The natureof theinvention will be--most-quick ly ascertained from a detailed description of the construction illustratedin the drawing.

The reference numeral I0 designates the lower portion of the pen barrel,'which may be of decorative or opaque character, and the reference numeral Illa designates a lower end portion of the barrel which is of transparent material. The portion IDa may be in the nature of a short sleeveor section of tubing permanently cemented tothe portion IUso as to form, in effect, an integral part thereof.

The reference numeral II designates the pen section sleeve which is reduced at its upper portion so as to t tightly, but removably, within the lower end of the barrel. The portion of the transparent part Illa which overlaps the pen section sleeve may be stained so as to have the same color as the pen section sleeve.

At its upper end the pen section sleeve is internally screw threaded at IIa and below its threaded portion is formed with an inwardly jutting annular shoulder or ledge I Ib. In the lower portion of the pen section sleeve are mounted the feed bar I2, the pen point I4, and the valve slide I5 which carries the cut-off valve I6.

The feed bar I2`is provided in its upper side with a longitudinal ink feed channel I27l which underlies the pen point, and in its under side is provided with a transverse slot I2b, leaving two abutments I2c and I2d. These abutments are ink turn formed with parallel longitudinal grooves I2e (see Fig. 2). The rear end of the feed bar is nished in frusto-conical form. Y

On the feed bar is mounted the Valve slide I5, which fits in the grooves I2e and is slotted longitudinally to accommodate the outer ends of the abutments I2c andv I2d. This valve slide is formed of a sheet of thin but stiii metal which is properly resistant to the ink, and is curved transversely so as to conform to the peripheral contour oi the feed bar and the bore wall of the pen section sleeve II. At its lower end it is formed with an outwardly turned flange |50., and at its upper end carries the conically shaped valve I6 which is formed as an integral part of the slide and is adapted to t on the irustoconical end of the feed bar. The slide is formed also with an inwardly bent tongue I5b` adapted to travel in the slot I2b of the feed bar and functionas a retainer and aligning guide for a helical spring I'I which is disposed in the slot I2?) with its rearward end bearing against the abutment I2c'and its forward end against the portion I5c of the valve slide. The spring I'I thus tends to hold the slide I5 in its forward position, as in Figs. 1 and 2, but the slide may be moved rearwardly against the pressure of the spring and thereby move the valve I6 rearwardly.

The valve slide and spring I l are assembled on the feed bar as above described, and this assembly, together with the pen point I4, are inserted together into the pen section sleeve II where they are retained securely by friction, the valve slide, however, being movable longitudinally as above described, and the projecting portion Ia of the slide affording means whereby it may be engaged to move it rearwardly.

Within the upper portion of the pen section sleeve II is disposed an elastic rubber gasket I8, which is of sleeve form and provides a Vseat for the valve I6, said valve being effective to close the orifice of the gasket when the valve is moved to rearward position as above described. This valve seat gasket IB rests upon the shoulder IIb of the pen section sleeve and extends for a short distance into the threaded portion I Ia.

The reference numeral I9 designates the filling or reservoir sac of the pen, same being of conventional character in that it is closed at its upper end and is of elastic material so that it tends normally to remain in its distended condition. A pressure bar 20 of conventional character is arranged in the barrel alongside the sac, and is operable in the usual manner by a pivotal side lever to compress or collapse the sac. The open lower end of the sac is telesooped onto and secured to a short connecting sleeve 2|, which is transparent, and may be made conveniently of pyroxylin or similar material. The lower end portion of this sleeve is screw threaded for engagement in the threaded portion IIa of the pen section sleeve, and it is also formed with a shoulder 2 la adapted-to abut the upper end of the pen section sleeve. When the transparent sleeve 2l is thus mounted in the pen section sleeve I I, and the latter is mounted in the lower end of the barrel as above described, the unobstructed transparent portion of the sleeve 2I will be opposite the transparent portion Illa of the barrel, as a consequence of which the user may see entirely through the barrel as the pen is transparent throughout its entire circumference for a short distance above the upper end of the pen section sleeve. The bore or cavity of the transparent sleeve 2|, together with the cavity of the ink sac I9, constitute the ink reservoir of the pen.

When assembled as above described, the lower end of the transparent sleeve 2l abuts the upper end of the valve seat gasket I8 and holds the gasket tightly compressed against the shoulder IIb.

The pen is filled in the conventional fashion by immersing the projecting portion of the feed bar and pen point in a body of ink, and operating the side lever to compress the sac I9 and then release it to permit it to expand and draw ink into the reservoir. When the pen is uncapped as in use for writing, the valve I6 is moved to and held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by the spring I'I, and ink may ow from the reservoir through the gasket I8 and into the feed channel I2a of the feed bar to supply the pen point. The cover cap 22 is provided to house the pen section in the customary manner, being screw threaded at 22a. for engagement with threads IDb on the barrel. The cap is provided with a continuous inwardly projecting ledge or shoulder 22h in position to overlap the iiange I5a of the valve slide, so that in the operation of seating the cap on the pen, the valve slide will be moved rearwardly to seat the valve I6 on the valve seat I8, and thus seal off the ink reservoir from communication with the pen section. Thus, when the pen is capped, leakage of ink from the reservoir is prevented.

Inasmuch as it is quite desirable that the feed bar, pen point and valve slide remain securely in their proper positions` in the pen section sleeve at all times, it is important that the elastic valve seat I8 be rendered otherwise accessible for removal and replacement in event it loses its elasvticity or becomes permanently distorted. The

construction facilitates such removal and replacement of the valve seat I8, as well as the original assembly of the parts. 'I'he barrel may be entirely withdrawn from the pen section sleeve II, transparent sleeve 2l, and ink sac I9, and then the transparent sleeve 2l may be unscrewed from` the pen section sleeve, thus permitting removal of the valve seat I8, as illustrated in Fig. 6. When the parts are assembled, the cooperation of the valve seat I8 with the pen section sleeve and the transparent sleeve 2l prevents any leakage of ink between the two sleeves, and the pressure of the valve `II on the valve seat, when the valve is seated, increases the sealing pressure of the valve seat against the end of the transparent sleeve 2|. The transparent area aiforded throughout the entire circumference of the barrel by the portion Illa and sleeve 2l enables the user to see at a glance whether or not the pen is in need of lling, this being made evident by absence of ink in the transparent portion prior to the time that the pen runs completely dry. The construction is of particular advantage in that it permits access to be had to the interior of the pen section sleeve without removal of the feed bar and pen point and without removal of the ink sac from its connection. Another advantage of this construction resides in the fact that the relationship of the transparent portion of the barrel and the transparent connecting sleeve is definitely fixed by the nature of the connections, so that when the structure is assembled they will be in the proper position. 'I'he disposal of the narrow transparent area of the barrel in proximity to the pen section permits that area to be completely covered and received by the skirt of the cap when the cap is in place.

What I claim is:

1. In a fountain pen, in combination, a pen section sleeve, an annular valve seat therein, a feed bar and pen point mounted in the sleeve below said valve seat, said feed bar being grooved longitudinally in its side which is remote from the pen point, a valve slide movable longitudinally in the grooved portion of the feed bar and retained therein by the sleeve, said slide having an end portion projecting beyond the lower end of the pen section sleeve and disposed laterally of the feed bar, a valve carried by the valve slide and movable rearwardly thereby to seated position on the valve seat, and a spring housed in the feed bar and cooperating with the valve slide to urge it forwardly to unseat the valve.

2. In a fountain pen, in combination, a pen section sleeve having an inwardly projecting annular shoulder, an annular valve seat within the pen section sleeve with its forward end seated on said shoulder, a connecting sleeve removably mounted in the pen section sleeve and abutting the rearward end of the Valve seat to hold said valve seat pressed against said shoulder, and a valve movable longitudinally in the pen section sleeve into and out of seating engagement with the forward portion of the valve seat.

3. In a fountain pen, in combination, a pen section sleeve, a connecting sleeve disposed rearwardly of said pen section sleeve and removably connected thereto, an annular valve seat retained in the pen section sleeve by said connecting sleeve but removable rearwardly from the former upon removal of the latter,l and an ink receptacle connected to said connecting sleeve and communicating therewith, whereby ink may flow from said receptacle through said connecting sleeve and annular valve seat to said pen section sleeve. e 4. In a. fountain pen, in combination, a barrel having adjacent its forward end a narrow annular transparent portion, a pen section sleeve having a reduced portion retentively engaged in the lower end of the barrel with its rearward terminus adjacent said transparent portion, a rigid connecting sleeve demountably secured in the rearward portion of said pen section sleeve and having an unoccupied annular transparent portion within the annular transparent portion of the barrel, and an ink container connected to the connecting sleeve rearwardly of said transparent barrel portion so that ink may flow from said container through the connecting sleeve to the pen section sleeve and be visible from the exterior through said transparent portions without contacting the transparent barrel portion.

ALBERT H. STENERSEN. 

